The Institute of Black Imagination.

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is part 1 of episode 13 with Harlem socialite and style icon, Lana Turner. Born at the Women’s Hospital on West and 110th St. and still residing in the neighborhood 70 years later, Ms. Turner is quintessential Harlem, a landmark unto herself. A mathematician of dressing, Ms. Turner does not just put clothes on but uses her body as a medium in whic...

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 25 with fencer and three-time Olympian, Daryl Homer. Hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Daryl, along with his mother and sister relocated to the Gun Hill section of the Bronx when he was five.  His interest in fencing began at an early age, after encountering the word “Fencing” in a pictorial dictionary that his mother gave him....

‘Black Thought’ Trotter on his origin story: “I think often in the case of heroes or of a character, a protagonist who sort of rises to greatness there is some trauma Yeah. And you know my life is was no different.” Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 12 with a man who needs no introduction, but I’m going to introduce him anyway:  Tariq Luqmaan Trotter, better known...

In today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 4 with psychologist, Dr. Courtney Cogburn.  Hailing from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Doctor Cogburn’s research focuses on how racism contributes to health disparities amongst Black Americans and in particular how over time, blatant and subtle racism in media stresses and literally wears down Black bodies—a phenomenon also known as...

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 39 with Timnit Gebru an artificial intelligence researcher.  Timnit advocates for fair and just use of the technology we use everyday. A former employee of Google, Timnit consistently calls in and calls out a Big Tech industry that leverages power, capital, and bias in favor of, well, themselves and their wallets. From language to...

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 2 with architect, designer, and scholar, Dr. Mabel O. Wilson. Doing double duty as a Professor of Architecture and as Associate Director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies, both at Columbia University, Dr. Wilson is not your traditional designer of buildings. Her trans-disciplinary practice extends well beyond the...

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 3 with writer Casey Gerald. Born in Oak Cliff Texas, Casey’s life reads like a textbook definition of The American Dream.  Oh you know, Small town boy from a troubled home makes good and lands in the Ivy Leagues—Yale to be exact. Casey later goes off to Harvard Business school and co-founds the nonprofit MBAs Across America, for wh...

Today’s Summer School episode from the IBI Archive is episode 23 with Heather McGhee. Heather designs and promotes solutions to inequality in America.  Do you know Heather?  You might know Heather. Maybe you saw her on NBC’s Meet the Press, or MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Or perhaps you saw her sparring with Republican Senator John Kennedy during the confirmation hearings of supreme court Just...

And now a word from our Founder & Host Dario Calmese. Thank you for your support and being a part of our community. We are taking a break, but we will not leave you wanting. Class is still in session. This Summer School Semester we will be sharing some of our favorite previous episodes. In case you missed it, or want to revisit and catch more pearls of wisdom with us.  We are looking forw...

Today’s episode is an odyssey through Mili’s own journey through ancestral ties, personal identity, and relationships. She walks us through the process of engaging our ancestors in our everyday lives. We explore the necessity for connection and healing between Africans and African Americans. And we delve into the lessons one learns by simply sitting with questions that may never be answered. Tell...

Today’s episode is an odyssey through Mili’s own journey through ancestral ties, personal identity, and relationships. She walks us through the process of engaging our ancestors in our everyday lives. We explore the necessity for connection and healing between Africans and African Americans. And we delve into the lessons one learns by simply sitting with questions that may never be answered. Tell...

In today’s episode, Rayvon gives us a peek into the locker room, revealing how athletic teams use biometric data to craft game day strategy. He also shares the drawbacks of using technology and Artificial Intelligence not only on the playing field but also in the courtroom.  He shines a light on the importance of creating pathways for black and brown individuals to gain access to research fun...

In today’s episode, Alia gives us a rundown on the role of the gallery and gallery representation. She shares what young artists should be considering when starting their careers, and helpful guidance on how to price their work. She weighs in on the impacts and pitfalls of social media for artists, the direction of NFT’s and what the art world needs to do to become more egalitarian. We’re trying s...

Today's episode is an exploration of the stars, so get your notebooks out.  Dossé-Via walks us through the African origins of modern astrology, how star-gazing is actually compatible if not embedded within Christianity, Islam, and other religious practices, and what compatibility REALLY means. Not to mention breaking down all those astrological houses and alignments and, well, you get the pi...

In today's episode, Robert explores what it means to lead with legacy in mind. We talk through the lessons learned from fully immersing oneself in their craft and the importance of building a community. Today’s episode is sure to leave you inspired so be sure to share your most motivational moments with us over on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. You can also view this episode and catch...

In today’s episode, Justin educates us on the questions we should be asking about our neighborhoods. He shares how to find your voice while highlighting the important role black and brown people can play in the world of philanthropy. Today’s episode will be full of gems so make sure to share your favorite moment with us over on Twitter and Instagram at @blackimagination. You can also view this epi...

Show notes In today’s episode, Kevin shares with us his life-long pursuit of creative curiosity. He reminds us that what may seem like a career pivot from the outside, is really an internal expansion; as each new acquired skill makes you uniquely qualified for the problems you aim to solve. It encourages us to tap into the path of experimentation and how pursuing “stretch assignments” can test the...

Today’s episode is with award-winning choreographer + director Camille A. Brown.  Do you know Camille?  You know Camille. You may recognize her work, on Broadway in Once On This Island or on television choreographing Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert! Camille’s work is an ode to reclamation and staying connected to ancestral ties with her deep passion to empower Black bodies by allo...

Today’s episode is with sneaker designer and tech entrepreneur Jason Mayden. Jason is the founder of Super Heroic, a footwear brand empowering children to be their own heroes. He’s also the CEO of Trilicon Valley– a modern design collective made up of entrepreneurs, designers, athletes, and all-around creatives. You may recognize him from his time spent at Nike in their digital sports division ser...

This special edition of the podcast is our final episode of 2022.  Today we are revisiting our conversations with thirteen of our guests from this year as they illustrate what happens when you lead with love. Our guests not only talk about romantic love but also highlight what it means to be madly in love with your work, what it can teach us about ourselves, and how important it is to fall he...

Today’s episode is with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Author Rita Dove. Rita is a US Poet Laureate, the recipient of 29 honorary degrees…Yes, you heard correctly…29, and the only poet to be honored with both the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal of Arts. Her portfolio of work is timeless, precise, and captures the complexity of life.  In today’s episode, we explore the pleasu...

Today's episode is with architect Sekou Cooke. Sekou is one of the leading advocates for the study and practice of Hip-Hop Architecture, a practice that poses hip-hop as architecture and uses the language of design to investigate its construction. In today's episode, we explore why urban design cannot exist without hip-hop. We lean into what can happen if we start to understand the nature of urban...

Today’s conversation is with creative director, and architectural archivist Jerald “Coop” Cooper. Coop is the founder of Hood-century Modern — an Instagram account that sparked a preservation movement by highlighting the iconic and unique designs of mid-century buildings in Black neighborhoods; connecting modern architecture to Black culture. A hip-hop aficionado and curious soul, Coop reminds us...

Today’s episode is with award-winning writer, scholar and activist Frank B. Wilderson III. Frank is known as the Godfather of Afropessimism: a critical theory that positions anti-blackness as the antidote for the psychic well-being of society. Did that sound heady? Well, pull out our pen and paper. Frank’s curiosity and fearlessness in revealing hard truths, takes us on a scholarly journey that wi...

Today’s episode is with award-winning writer, scholar and activist Frank B. Wilderson III. Frank is known as the Godfather of Afropessimism: a critical theory that anti-blackness is “necessary for world-making at every level of abstraction.” Did that sound heady? Well, get ready. Frank’s curiosity, appetite for knowledge and nuance, along with his fearlessness to explore what is, in the absence of...